Monday, August 18, 2008

Coloured and contaminated , this is the only source of drinking water here. The downpour on Thursday brought expected floods, but also ensured temporary supply of drinking water to nearly 300 families.

Residents of Ward 95 - Muneshwarnagar , Kushalnagar, Shadabnagar and parts of RT Nagar - are living with erratic drinking water supply for the past few years. "We have followed it up with the authorities and the MLA since 2000, but in vain,'' says Basha, a social worker from Muneshwarnagar.

Dry taps, corporation tanks surrounded by garbage and out-of-service borewells are the order of the day. Cauvery water supply has been discontinued for over a month now.

"Having regular connections has not helped. We survive on borrowed water. Luckily, Thursday's rain brought us some stock to last a few days,'' says Kasturi, a housewife.

Rajeshwari was unable to have a bath even for Vara Mahalakshmi Puja. Nearly 600 children at the Syedia madrasa in Arabic College, R T Nagar, too have been affected. Madrasa authorities say they buy water in tankers every day. "At times, the supply is hit as garbage and flooded drains prevent entry of vehicles,'' says a madrasa worker. "However, there are many houses with illegal connection which get regular water supply,'' says Fakhruddin.

After failed attempts to get a response from water supply officials and the MLA, nearly 300 residents held a three-hour protest in front of the water tank near Pilamma Garden on Friday.

"The authorities have promised relief within a week but our experience has been bitter,'' says a resident.